Lighteyes Boom

[worldwithinworld]

Moash and Kaladin were both raised to 4th nahn and granted land for becoming Shardbearers. Are all Radiants who reach the Shardblade oath being granted 4th nahn status? The land part doesn’t mean much while Alethkar is occupied, but if the humans retake the country, will loads of former darkeyes take over parcels of land across Alethkar? Will natural-born lighteyes accept that? It’s one thing in exile during a time of emergency, but I bet many of them want to return to the previous status quo. I think darkeyes, both Radiants and regular, will have to struggle during peacetime to keep the gains they made during the war with the fused/singers.

[NameIess]

14 minutes ago, worldwithinworld said:

Moash and Kaladin were both raised to 4th nahn and granted land for becoming Shardbearers. Are all Radiants who reach the Shardblade oath being granted 4th nahn status? The land part doesn’t mean much while Alethkar is occupied, but if the humans retake the country, will loads of former darkeyes take over parcels of land across Alethkar? Will natural-born lighteyes accept that? It’s one thing in exile during a time of emergency, but I bet many of them want to return to the previous status quo. I think darkeyes, both Radiants and regular, will have to struggle during peacetime to keep the gains they made during the war with the fused/singers.

Radiants are going to be lighteyes. The lighteyes can't change that, with the queen of Alethkar, the military, and the common darkeyes on the side of the Radiants. darkeyes might have trouble holding on to the ground they've gained thanks to Dalinar, particularly if Dalinar dies.

Now, I do see your point that with hundreds of fourth dahn lighteyes suddenly appearing out of nowhere, it might be impossible to give them all land.

[+Harrycrapper]

I have a feeling the eye color based class system is beginning to erode. Jasnah is already taking steps towards changing Alethkar's class system by outlawing slavery and Dalinar even started chipping away at it when he made Kaladin the captain of his guard back in WoR. 

[PurpurPhönix he/him]

And really with everything going on on Roshar, the social order is probably gonna fall a little into disarray, which makes these kind of social class distinctions easier to change one would imagine 

[Frustration]

2 hours ago, worldwithinworld said:

Moash and Kaladin were both raised to 4th nahn and granted land for becoming Shardbearers. Are all Radiants who reach the Shardblade oath being granted 4th nahn status? The land part doesn’t mean much while Alethkar is occupied, but if the humans retake the country, will loads of former darkeyes take over parcels of land across Alethkar? Will natural-born lighteyes accept that? It’s one thing in exile during a time of emergency, but I bet many of them want to return to the previous status quo. I think darkeyes, both Radiants and regular, will have to struggle during peacetime to keep the gains they made during the war with the fused/singers.

Even if natural born lighteyes tried to kick them out what are they going to do?

Just say no to the guy who could kill you and your entire family without blinking?

[Quivil]

"Shardbearers can't hold land." - every military in the stormlight archive

[AerionBFII he/him]

16 hours ago, Harrycrapper said:

I have a feeling the eye color based class system is beginning to erode. Jasnah is already taking steps towards changing Alethkar's class system by outlawing slavery and Dalinar even started chipping away at it when he made Kaladin the captain of his guard back in WoR. 

I agree with this completely. 

(Mistborn Era 1 & 2 spoilers)

 

Spoiler

We saw similar things begin to happen after the overthrow of the Lord Ruler and particularly during the riots in the second Era with the nobility becoming less respected and revered. 
Absolute monarchs will become a thing of the past and give way to Republics, Senates, Parliaments and Constitutional monarchs. I think the Era of SA we are seeing will be the catalyst for the erosion of their power base. Brandons always said he wants the Cosmere to be the story of the Cosmere told through Characters.

 

[Kallor]

16 hours ago, Frustration said:

Even if natural born lighteyes tried to kick them out what are they going to do?

Just say no to the guy who could kill you and your entire family without blinking?

Complain quietly

[cometaryorbit]

I think that the feudal land ownership system is unlikely to survive; even if Alethkar is retaken, which isn't guaranteed, Jasnah would probably put in dramatic reforms when that happened.

I think the lighteye/darkeye class system was tied to Shardblades from the beginning- the idea that you could become lighteyed by winning a Blade in battle was, I think, a fairly important part of "legitimating" that system in a culture as war-focused as the Alethi.

I imagine the lighteyes would retain social status, but the Radiants probably more so.

EDIT: as for original lighteyes accepting it, I doubt they'd be happy about it, but with the feudal land-holding structure already removed by the invasion of/flight from Alethkar, I don't think they'd have the power to prevent it. It will help the Radiants a lot that Jasnah is both Radiant and from the Kholin dynasty - it's not really an external force stepping in.

Edited March 22, 2022 by cometaryorbit